Trimma meityae Winterbottom & Erdmann, 2018
Meity’s pygmygoby

Family:  Gobiidae (Gobies), subfamily: Gobiinae
Max. size:  1.86 cm SL (male/unsexed); 1.55 cm SL (female)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 50 - 60 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Indonesia (West Papua).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 6-8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: scales on cheeks and opercle; scales in predorsal midline 8-10; unbranched pectoral fin rays 17-18; unbranched 5th pelvic fin ray 40-47% length of 4th ray; total gill rakers 21-22; broad interorbital (56-79% pupil width) with narrow crease-like postorbital groove, ending at posteriormost papilla in row p; papillae in row p 8, with 2 papillae ventral to papilla row n; nasal apparatus small and situated on anterior one-third of snout with posterior nares forming posterodorsal margin of nasal sac; colour when alive or freshly collected has the dorsal surface of eye light blue; preserved specimens with melanophores on dorsal surface of snout and mostly adjacent to nasal capsules (Ref. 118315).

Differs from Trimma blematium by having 17-18 pectoral fin rays (vs. 16), unbranched 5th pelvic fin ray (vs. branched), with 8 papillae in row 'p' (vs. 7 papillae); and in live specimens, the blue colour over the top of the eyes is less darker in this species than in T. blematium (Ref. 118315).

Biology:  Observed and collected from a nearshore reef which almost has no exposure to waves or currents, on a silty sand and rubble slope (Ref. 118315).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 07 September 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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